Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa Fondok Al Nile Helton, El-Karnak, Luxor, Luxor Governorate, Egypt Hilton Luxor is a category 4 Hilton property located on the banks of River Nile in the town of Karnak. It is located only 10 km away from the Luxor International airport and only a few minutes drive from the Karnak Temple. The hotel provides complimentary airport transfer shuttle for elite Hilton HHonors members. The hotel also has a shuttle that transports guests along the East Bank all the way up to Luxor Temple 6 times a day. A reward night at this property costs only …
Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa
Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Ramses Hilton Cairo
Ramses Hilton, Cairo, Egypt 1115 Corniche El Nile, Cairo, Egypt Ramses Hilton is a Catgory 2 Hilton property located on the banks of the Nile, only a 10 minute walk from the famous Museum of Egyptian Antiquities (also commonly known as Egyptian Museum). This hotel costs only 10,000 Hilton HHonors points per award night. We arrived really late at night (around 2 AM). We had booked 2 rooms for a total of 4 guests. Check-in was very quick and the agent upgraded both the rooms from a regular King to King Deluxe (with River Nile views). Due to me and my …
Africa Asia Destination Trip ReportsDec’15 – Jan’16: India, Egypt and Kenya Trip – Introduction
Its that time of the year !! Time to go to India and see my family again. Last year, on our trip to India, me and my wife along with my parents did a short South-East Asia trip visiting Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Phuket and Bali. This time we wanted to check off two items from our bucket list – Pyramids and African Safari. Yes, we have plans to go to Egypt (Cairo and Luxor) as well as Masai Mara Reserve close to Nairobi. I know that some folks might think its too risky and maybe even reckless to be visiting Egypt (especially …
Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Hilton Curacao
Hilton Curacao Resort John F Kennedy Boulevard, Willemstad, 2133 Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles Hilton Curacao Resort is a Category 5 Hilton property located in Piscadera Bay, about 10 km away from Curacao International Airport. A free night at this property using Hilton HHonors points costs between 30,000 – 40,000 points per night. We arrived at the resort around 1 PM. Check-in was quick and the front desk agent upgraded us to an Executive Floor room facing the parking lot. He indicated that the North Sea Jazz festival was going on during our stay and our room would have a clear line …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun
The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun Boulevard Kukulcan KM 20, Cancun, Quintana Roo, 77500, Mexico The Westin Resort & Spa, Cancun is a Category 3 SPG property located at the lower end of the Zona Hotelara (Hotel Zone) in Cancun. The hotel is only 12 km from the airport and the first hotel one would come across when arriving at the hotel zone from the airport. A free night at the hotel costs 7,000 SPG points. We arrived at the hotel early in the morning as we were flying in red-eye from Los Angeles. The hotel front desk agent was very …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPGHotel Review: Four Points Sheraton Portland East
Four Points by Sheraton Portland East 1919 NE 181st Avenue Portland,Oregon 97230 Four Points by Sheraton Portland East is a Category 2 SPG property located about 10 miles away from Portland International Airport (and also 10 miles away from Portland downtown), less than half way between the airport and the various water-fall attractions on the Columbia River Gorge. A free night at the hotel costs only 4,000 SPG points. Check-in was quick. I requested the front desk agent for a late checkout on last day because our flight back to Los Angeles was departing in the early evening. She mentioned …
Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Caribe Hilton, San Juan
Caribe Hilton 1 San Geronimo St, San Juan, 00901, Puerto Rico The Caribe Hilton is a Category 6 Hilton property located by the Condado Lagoon area of San Juan. The hotel is located about 15 minutes from the international airport (Luiz Munoz Marin Airport) and costs approximately $22 one way by cab (luggage charges extra). Since we were staying in San Juan for just a night after returning from our 7 Night Carnival Cruise, I had booked only 1 room (2 Double Bed Room) for the 4 of us for 50,000 points. Check-in was quick. Karen has Hilton HHonors Gold status and since the booking …
Caribbean Cruises Destination Trip Reports US, Canada, MexicoMay 2015: My Parents’ USA Trip – From Puerto Rico to Portland: Introduction
My parents are visiting us again in May and will be staying with us for just over a month. Since my parents really loved the 5 day Caribbean Cruise we took in 2012, I went ahead and booked a 7 day Southern Caribbean Cruise with Carnival. Also, for the Memorial Day long-weekend, I wanted to take them on a trip to Portland, which we loved during our long weekend trip in 2013. Here is a list of the upcoming Trip Reports and Hotel Reviews for the trips in May 2015: Hotel Review: Days Inn Jamaica – JFK Airport Puerto Rico Trip …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort
Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort Karon Nui Alley, Karon, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83100, Thailand Le Meridien Phuket Beach Resort is a SPG Category 4 property located about 24 miles from the Phuket International Airport. This hotel is the only hotel in Phuket with its own private beach which is inaccessible to non-guests. The hotel is near Karon Beach and only 5 minutes away from Patong Beach. A free night at this resort costs 10,000 SPG points or 5,000 SPG points + $75 per night with SPG Cash + Points rate. We booked 2 rooms for 1 night using the …
Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: DoubleTree Resort by Hilton Hotel Phuket – Surin Beach
Doubletree Resort by Hilton Hotel Phuket – Surin Beach 106/27 Moo3,Cherngtalay Surin Beach, Phuket, 83110, Thailand Doubletree Resort Phuket on Surin Beach is a Category 3 Hilton property located about 20 miles south of Phuket International Airport. The cab ride from the airport to this resort is around 700 THB. A free night at this resort costs 20,000 Hilton HHonors points. After a quick check-in we were offered the Doubletree signature cookie, welcome drink and cold towels. Our check-in agent informed us that we were upgraded from King room to King suite (pool facing). Since both me and Karen are …
Hotel Reviews Reviews Wyndham RewardsHotel Review: Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside, Bangkok
Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside 2074 Charoenkrung Road, Bangkorlaem, Bangkok 10120, Thailand Ramada Plaza Menam Riverside is a Wyndham property located on the banks of Chao Phraya river in the heart of Bangkok. A free night at this hotel costs only 5500 Wyndham Rewards points and is probably one of the better redemptions of this program. The hotel offers complimentary shuttle boat service to the nearby BTS Skytrain station as well as the Central Pier as well as a complimentary tuk-tuk service to nearby Asiatique market. On arrival we were offered warm towels and a delicious lychee welcome drink. The front …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua
Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua Kawasan Pariwisata Lot SW1 Nusa Dua Bali 80363 Indonesia Courtyard Bali Nusa Dua is a Category 4 Marriott property located about 8 miles from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Bali. A free night at this resort currently costs 20,000 Marriott points (15,000 points for Pointsavers redemptions). Check-in was quick. The front desk agent informed me that they had gotten a call from the Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort the previous day and were notified that my wife’s birthday was during my stay here and therefore they had arranged a cake for her. I was very happy to hear …
Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort
Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort Jalan Pantai Kuta, Kuta, Bali, 80361, Indonesia Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort is a Category 3 SPG property located right on the very popular Kuta Beach and only 3.5 miles from the Ngurah Rai International Airport. The hotel is actually located across the street from Kuta Beach. An SPG free night at this resort costs only 7000 SPG points and Cash + Points rewards go for 3500 SPG points + $ 55 USD per night. We used the latter option when we stayed at this resort. As soon as we arrived at the resort, after entering through a …
Hotel Reviews IHG Rewards Club ReviewsHotel Review: Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur
Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur 165 Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur 50450, Malaysia This five star hotel is located right beside the Ampang Park Light Rail Transit (LRT) station on Kelana Jaya Line. This hotel is a very good option for those wanting to walk to the Petronas Towers as its only a 10 minutes walking distance away from the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC). When checking in, the IHG Guest services agent offered to upgrade us to an Executive Lounge floor at a steep cost (if my memory serves me right, it was something like $80 USD per room) which we declined. …
Destination Trip Reports Hotel Reviews Marriott/SPG ReviewsHotel Review: Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur
Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur is an SPG Category 3 property located right beside the Kuala Lumpur Sentral train station, the largest train station in South East Asia. A free night at this hotel costs 7000 SPG points per night and Cash + Points currently go for 3500 SPG points + $55 USD. The non-refundable prepaid rate for this hotel was going for only $ 97 USD for the dates we were traveling and so I did not redeem any SPG points for …
Asia Destination Trip ReportsDec’14 – Jan’15: India and SE Asia Trip – Introduction
Its December again which means its Vacation Time !! This trip I am leaving for India 10 days before Karen and will spend some alone time with my family before Karen will join me. During the second week of January, we will be going on a 9 day trip to South East Asia (Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand) with my parents. I have been to both Bangkok and Phuket before (Bangkok trip report and Phuket trip report) but it would be the first time for Karen and my parents. There will be a lot of trip reports, airline reviews and hotel reviews following this trip. Airline …
Hotel Reviews IHG Rewards Club ReviewsHotel Review: Holiday Inn Resort Aruba-Beach Resort & Casino
Holiday Inn Resort Aruba – Beach Resort & Casino – Aruba J.E. Irausquin Blvd 230, Noord, Aruba Holiday Inn Resort is located in the High-Rise area, right on Palm Beach. It is located about 2 hotels down from the Radisson Resort on the same beach. A free night at this hotel costs 30000 IHG rewards points. Just before our stay, IHG was running a 50% off points promotion and I switched our reward night booking to Points + Money booking (70$ + 2500 points). Since the rooms go for about $180/night – $300/night, I was pretty happy with this redemption. The …
Club Carlson Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa
Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa J.E. Irausquin Boulevard 81, Noord, Aruba Radisson resort is the lone Club Carlson property in Aruba. It is located next to the all inclusive Riu resort on Palm Beach in the High-Rise area. A free night at this resort costs 50,000 and 75,000 Club Carlson points for standard room award and premium room award respectively. We arrived at just after 1 pm and check-in was fairly quick. Front desk agent told us she upgraded us to an oceanview king deluxe room. As a Club Carlson gold member, we are not eligible for complimentary breakfast …
Hilton HHonors Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Hilton Dublin Airport
Hilton Dublin Airport Northern Cross, Malahide Rd, Dublin, D17, Ireland Hilton Dublin Airport is a Category 4 Hilton property located less than 10 minutes drive from the Dublin International Airport. A free night at this hotel costs 20,000 – 30,000 Hilton HHonors points. The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service between the airport and the hotel. However, it is not a 24 hour shuttle service (the website does not make any mention of it). We found out the hard way when we arrived at the Dublin airport at close to 11 PM (partly due to the 1 hour airline delay) and after reaching …
Club Carlson Hotel Reviews ReviewsHotel Review: Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s Hotel, Paris Trocadero
Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s Hotel, Paris Trocadero 117 rue de Lauriston, 75116, Paris, France Radisson Blu Le Dokhan’s Hotel is located in the Paris Trocadero area. It is about 8 minutes walking distance from the Trocadero Metro station (Metro Line 6 and 9) and 15 minutes walking distance from the Eiffel Tower. This is a true boutique hotel with eclectic interior decoration and furnishings. This hotel is the home of the Le Dokhan’s Bar, the oldest champagne bar in the city of Paris. A free night at this hotel now requires 70,000 Club Carlson points (for standard room) and 105,000 Club Carlson …